OBITUARY

Joe Engel Chrisman

November 17, 1949 – January 23, 2019

Joe Chrisman went to be with the Lord Wednesday morning, January 23, 2019, after a five month battle with West Nile Virus. He was born and raised in Gassaway, WV. He earned his Bachelor’s of Science in Business from West Virginia University. After graduation, he worked for Olan Mills where he met and fell in love with Karen Griggs. They married in February 1973. After having three children they moved to Kingwood, TX in 1987 to raise their family and have resided there since then.

Joe was working at KBR at the time of his death. Joe never met a stranger. He was a personable and charismatic man with a big heart. He enjoyed basketball, football, and cars. Above all, he loved spending time with his family.

Joe is preceded in death by his father Carl “Frederick” Chrisman and his mother Juanita Marie. He is survived by his sister, Anne Rodak her daughters Rae and Lee and their families, his loving wife, Karen, his children Todd and his wife Tracy, Kyle and his wife Gaby and Kimberly and her husband Paul, and his adoring grandchildren Ty, Frederick, Bryce, Tobi, Daniel, Kaitlyn, Garrett and Elizabeth.
He is loved by many and will remain in our hearts and memories forever!
There will be a viewing held Monday January 28, 2019 from 10 o’clock am until noon with the celebration of life services immediately following at Kingwood Funeral Home, 22800 Hwy 59 North, Kingwood, TX 77339. He will be buried, near his hometown of Gassaway, WV, in the Chrisman Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be sent to either of the following:
Gassaway Baptist Church http://www.gassawaybaptist.com/give/?view=mobile
Second Baptist Church Youth Ministry UPWARD Basketball :
Second Baptist Church: Second Loves Kids,
Upward Basketball Scholarships In Memory of Joe Chrisman,
6400 Woodway Drive,
Houston, TX 77057

REMEMBERING

Joe Engel Chrisman

Sue Harlan

February 5, 2019

I returned to Houston from Iraq in 2009 and worked for Joe. Joe was a friend, a confidant, and a mentor to myself and many others. His ability to tell stories, share experiences, and lift people up was amazing but most of all his laugh filled a room and was contagious. Joe was a father figure to me and someone with whom I could share my troubles and fears. I called him old man a lot...he was old and wise but so very young at heart. I will miss him dearly.

Kristin Konvicka

February 5, 2019

Although I only met him a few times, I remember Mr. Chrisman as a warm and welcoming person with a smile that made me wonder what joke he was about to share. Whatever it was, he was going to include you in the laugh. The only specific quote I remember from him (as told to me by Kimberly) was that he was going to have the song "If You Don't Know Me By Now" played at his funeral. I remember laughing when I heard that, and couldn't help but smile when it did, in fact, play at his celebration of life. I also remember that he was very involved with you guys. In the many conversations Kimberly and I had while we worked together, it was evident that the father-daughter relationship they had was special and that he certainly loved all of you very much. I'm so sorry for your loss, Chrisman family, but I hope that you always share memories of him when you get together and I know he will remain in your hearts always.

Rhonda McNutt

February 2, 2019

Joe... my neighbor, my former coworker but most of all my friend for 30 years. I have so many wonderful memories that I will cherish for years to come. One day I had a snake in our pool, which I was trying to kill with plant sheers but they would not kill the snake so I walked next door to joe and Karen’s with the snake pinched in the sheers and asked Joe to kill it. Well!!! I should have known he did not want to kill it and wanted to let it go. I said absolutely not! It needs to go. After allot of conveniencing he finally got rid of it for me. Joe was smiling and laughing thinking I was crazy but knew I was not leaving until the snake was gone. I will miss the smell of his cigar when I walk into by backyard. I will miss seeing him on the mower every weekend as we both mow our yards. RIP my friend. You will be forever in my heart and the memories will last until we meet again. ❤️🙏🏻

Zanetta Knesek

February 1, 2019

Olan Mills meeting in Corpus, very professional, Tom, Ray and Joe in their fish ties with Renee and I in our best!! Great memories!

Zanetta knesek

February 1, 2019

Working hard at a meeting in Corpus Christi, we knew how to work. Zanetta Knesek, Joe Chrisman and Tom Scheible going to Dinner.

Zanetta Knesek

January 31, 2019

After many years of life spent with Joe and Karen it’s hard to find one memory. With Joe it was clear, he wares his heart on his sleeve, his opinion would one day (if not right now) be verbalize. My “in your face” management style was not a good fit for his well thought out style. Joe taught me to “put some velvet on that hammer”!! To respond and not to react. I could go on and on with examples of the lessons but the clear message was to be better, better every day in the way you lived your life!! Luv U Guy

Paul Elizondo

January 28, 2019

We are so sad for the loss of a wonderful friend and neighbor. Although the time we got to know Mr. Joe seems like such a short time, his cheerful and friendly spirit is everlasting in our hearts and we are thankful to have known him. Every time we had a conversation with him, he never failed to effortlessly make us smile with his playful sense of humor yet wise logic. His memory will forever be in our hearts. We will miss him so very much but we know Heaven is a better place now that Mr. Joe is there. The Chrismans are all a bundle of love, you will all be in our prayers! God bless you guys.

Paul, Cynthia and the Kids

Sherri Rollins Cohen

January 28, 2019

I was a friend from another world—high school in West Virginia. I didn’t grow up in Gassaway, but only passed through the little town for four years. But they were the most memorable years of my youth—high school. Joe was a big part of my memories. He was a cocky, spunky classmate who was a spiffy dresser—he was selected Best Dressed Boy in our class—who everyone knew and liked. Our senior year he grew hair long because that was the rage, and he was the talk of the town. No boy in Gassaway would do such a thing, but Joe Crisman.

I moved away after senior year and only saw him one more time after that when a group of my girlfriends and I drove to Morgantown to see him and and another GHS classmate. But I always wondered where he was and how his life was going.

I am so sorry that you’ve lost Joe ; I know your life with him was rich and full of love and laughter. May your wonderful memories sustain you through these difficult times ahead. I say these things with a personal knowledge of what you’re feeling because I, too, lost my husband much too soon ten years ago at the age of 62. Just let your loved ones— and the ones who loved Joe—support you and share your grief. Much love.

Sister ---Ann Rodak

January 27, 2019

Joe brought great joy to his mom and dad. We have a few stories that endured for years. First, I read friends referring to his basketball playing. Joe played basketball for hours in the "park" across the street. He never tired of basketball. These are early stories:

He came home from 1st grade and bragged to Mom he could spell doll. She, a teacher herself, knew it was probably too early in the year for him to be able to spell, but said go for it. Remember then and maybe still kids are taught to make letters with circles and sticks. So Joe spelled doll as he knew it " 0 1 0 1 1."

Mrs. Robinson, his first-grade teacher, reported to Mom that she was having a problem with Joe kissing the little girls in his class and wanted Mom to talk to him about it. So Mom started the discussion by saying there's a time and place for everything. Joe, knowing what was going to follow, said "Mom, I have looked everywhere and I cannot find that place up there."

Lastly, Mrs. Robinson had her students in a circle and was teaching them to read silently, but Joe was sitting here lip reading -- hsh, hsh, hss. She whispered, "I can hear you." With innocence and his directness at 5 years old, he said, "I think maybe you are sitting too close."

Karen Rieger

January 27, 2019

I have so many wonderful memories of Joe, having been his next door neighbor for 7 years. I remember how Joe loved playing basketball with his kids in the driveway. For hours!! When I think of him, I remember how fun-loving, kind, and caring Joe was and how very devoted he was to his wife, Karen and their three great kids, Todd, Kyle and Kimberly. His joyful spirit will be missed. My heart is with all of you. ❤️Karen Neu Rieger

Tammy Stewart

January 27, 2019

Peter Mueller

January 27, 2019

Joe’s sense of humor always lightened up the day. His personal interest in everyone’s life was genuine. His personal integrity showed in everything he did.Among the many conversations we had was his unwavering faith in Christ. I know we will meet in heaven again. You will be missed Joe.

Ed Cody

January 27, 2019

Joe was the Area Manager of the Houston Olan Mills Studios and we were having a lively discussion on how to get his photographers to do the sales pitch for a 16 x 20 canvas at the end of EVERY session because if they did, we knew it would increase the sales average. Most photographers were not sales people and did not want to give the sales pitch EVERY time. My point was that if we pushed them to do it 100% of the time, then we would hope to get a better compliance % than what we were getting at the time. After a while of us not finding common ground, Joe gave me that gritted teeth closed lipped smile and said " Ed, you and I both know that no matter how hard we push them, they will not do what they don't want to do, so what I propose we do is teach them an alternative to the canned presentation you guys have and tell them that they need to do one or the other at the end of each sitting their choice." One of many Joe lessons "When people are going to break the rules, teach them how to do it properly"

Marcia Henry

January 26, 2019

So many wonderful memories of Joe, the Dad, from 1890 on. Cheering on all the kids at soccer , baseball, etc. etc. All the many,many swim meets when in Katy. Joe was always positive and encouraging and a lot of fun. The Chrisman house was always open for business, even sheltering us from a hurricane for three power outage days and Joe grilling everything in the freezer before it went bad....it was memorable! I know how much he cherished Karen and all the kids and grandkids. Wonderful memories of raising our young families together. So glad to have all those memories....he will be missed but not forgotten.

Zoe Higgins

January 26, 2019

I worked with Joe at Continental Airlines. He had the cutest smile and laugh and was a kind and generous coworker. Our lives are better for knowing him.

Donnice Brandon

January 25, 2019

Karen and Family.I am so sorry to hear of the loss of Joe. He was truly a wonderful man. We have known you all for many years, starting back in the 90's when the kids were on the Forest Cove Fightin' Frogs Swim Team. I really got to know Joe when we started working together at Continental Airlines back in 2001 and carpooling with him and Rhonda McNutt. He was a fun coworker and friend. You all have been through so much these past few months. While Joe may no longer be here in the physical world, and is now at peace with his Lord and Savior, he will live forever in your hearts. My deepest condolences to you all. Sending healing prayers to you.

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